"International Student Movement"

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A leaflet introducing the "International Student Movement" and the idea of the "Global Wave of Action for Education" can also be downloaded here [.pdf: print 2 pages on 1 + duplex].
-> ready to be distributed at meetings and assemblies :)

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"Global Wave of Action for Education"

[October – November 2010]

During a global chat meeting [March 7th] on the „International Student Movement“, which was attended by activists in Sierra Leone, the U.S. of A., Italy, Germany, Austria, Spain, France, the Netherlands, the Philippines and Kosovo, the participants decided to call for a „Global Wave of Action for Education“.
The „wave“ will kick off with co-ordinated protests in some regions of the world such as the national day of action in the U.S.A. on October 7th. The protests currently being planned against the IMF meeting in Washington DC on October 9th-11th can be considered a part of the "global wave" as well according to the organizers.
It is vital that information will be shared in English about all sorts of education protests taking place during this timeframe (Oct./Nov.), especially at the beginning of „the wave“. The flow of information will inspire education activists and groups worldwide to take action as well.

The idea is, that the globally co-ordinated protests reach their peak during the week of the „International Students' Day“ [Nov.17th], which is Nov.15-21st.
Among others groups in Sierra Leone, the Philippines, Italy and Kosovo already confirmed, that they will join protests during that week.

June 16th already saw the "Day of United Symbolic Actions". On that day groups publicly announced the "Global Wave of Action for Education" to be coming up this autumn and a draft for a "worldwide press release" was published.

An overview of the reports that came in so far is also available here.

The "global wave" will be a great opportunity to create a stronger global network and show that we stand united in our struggle for free and emancipatory education, which is accessible to all. It has the potential to inspire and unite people worldwide, as well as help to spread awareness by showing that our struggle is of global nature. The long timeframe [October – November] gives more groups the opportunity to join and be part of this protest.

The following three elements will help to create the framework of the "global wave":

• the global "joint statement" (optional)
• a "united symbol" (optional)
  

  

• communication and co-ordination: all are asked to use the infrastructure (e.g. mailing list, forums, calendar, global chat meetings) to initiate, announce and co-ordinate actions in advance as well as report about them with picture and video material afterwards! All are invited to shape the platform "International Student Movement" and participate in discussions related to the "global wave" and/or the ISM. Only this process will help us to unite.

Generally it is up to each local/regional group/network/alliance how and when during these two months they express their protests and arrange actions, but all are asked to get involved in the co-ordination efforts and help to spread the word - be it during gatherings on the local, regional and international level or by contacting activists and groups anywhere in this world to inform them.

We have all the technology. We have all the knowledge. So let's make use of it!

PS: all groups are encouraged to announce their own calls and support the calls for action worldwide!

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A group on facebook was set up to share information related to the "global wave".

Questions, comments or suggestions?

General contact: united.for.education[at]gmail.com (in English or German).

Regional contacts:

• UK: Jonny [a founding member of the "Newcastle Free Education Network" and involved in the "Education Activist Network"]: jonny_pickering[at]hotmail.co.uk
• New York City (U.S.A.): Carina and Maggie: ltgcarina[at]yahoo.com (Carina) / warcantsolve[at]gmail.com (Maggie)
  
• South East Asia: Ika [involved with Pembebasan in Indonesia]: kn.pembebasan[at]gmail.com
  and Anton [involved with Anakbayan]: anakbayan.media[at]gmail.com